Close Calls

I feel like we have a lot of close calls with Nathan. Those moments when you think, "Oh boy, that could have been sooo much worse." Times when you see the accident coming and everything turns to slow motion and you are just 2 steps or 2 seconds behind. Today was one of those times. At lunch I was mixing up some chocolate milk (because Mondays are chocolate milk Mondays around here) and we were singing "Witches Brew". I would pause between verses to tell Nathan to settle down in his booster so that he wouldn't fall. We have him in a booster seat strapped to the chair and then we have to buckle him in (otherwise he gets up and down at least a dozen times per meal). I had just finished saying, "Nathan, stop or you are going to get hurt. If you rock that hard in your booster you are going to fall." Sure enough he starts to fall forward since he had thrown his weight back and then forward again he knocked the chair off balance and he is heading for the edge of the table without being able to bail out of his seat. He nails his face on the table just before I can get to him. The chocolate syrup ended up flying across the table as I ran over to scoop him up. His mouth was dripping blood in no time (thank goodness for yarrow) and the inside of his upper lip was pretty beat up. The first thing he said was, "chocack bop" (chocolate milk). But all in all things are fine. As far as I can tell his teeth are intact and he didn't break his nose or gash his forehead and ruin his perfect chubby little face. Little tender mercies.
At a minimum I have to rescue Nathan from choking twice a week (I guess some weeks it is only once, but others it can be 3 or 4 times, so the average is about twice). I mean the whack his back so he starts breathing again since he swallows his food whole like a snake. I wish the boy would learn to chew.
On the same note, I forgot to mention that on my birthday he and Kate got into my purse/diaper bag and rummaged through it. They (meaning Kate) managed to get open the concentrated infant Motrin and Nathan drank it. Luckily there was only about a 1/3 of it left or less, but I wasn't sure. So, I had to call poison control. (Boy, there's nothing like having to call poison control or pulling your kids off of your roof to make you feel like a fantastic mother. I'm not winning any awards this year. I'm just trying to keep Nathan alive. He is such a stereotypical two-year old boy.) Anyway, they asked me all kinds of question about him. Age, weight, type of medicine he drank, etc. When I told him he turned 2 in April and weighed 35 pounds he said, "Oh, okay." I said, "Yeah, the weight thing is going to work in our favor this time." That as well turned out to be fine. He would have had to drink about 5 times more than he did in order to have to go to the ER so we lucked out yet again. I think this boy might be part cat with 9 lives. I swear I am NOT just a bad mother.

Practicing

Eliza hates anything involving fine motor skills. She doesn't like to color, write, draw, etc. So I thought this was cute.

My Little Family

Aunt Nancy sent this up for us last week. It looks so cute on him.
The kids couldn't leave him alone. They just kept hugging and kissing him...not that that is very different from any other day I guess.

Just a few pictures before church.
Nathan is getting to that really cheesy smile stage.

Love that Tannerboy's smile.
My girls try so hard to take good care of him.

All of my boys.
See what I mean with the weird smile on Nathan? It's comical really.

I tell ya, I'm a lucky lady. My husband wears a suit 6 days a week.
I love how handsome he is in it.

Nathaniel wasn't big on kissing his son when Nathan was born.
He thought it was a little weird. This is proof that he has changed.
I just love how cute he is with his boys.

Dreams do come true.
I've got all I want right here at home.
(Not the home itself, mind you, just the people inside.)

Snow!?!

Doesn't he look like Ralphie's little brother from The Christmas Story?
This is Nathan's first experience with snow.

Kate trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue. She kept running around saying, "it's snowing over here, too! It's snowing on the car, too!" I love the wonder and magic in kids eyes.

I don't know if I'm ready for this...in fact I know I'm not. But, ready or not, it's here!
My kids are going to love it though. I guess it isn't always about me.

Secret Agent Man

Nathaniel walks Eliza to the bus stop in the morning and then, once she is on the bus, he continues on to work at the courthouse. One day a little while back he said that while Eliza was getting on the bus the bus driver asked him where he worked. He said he worked at the courthouse. She said, "So you aren't a secret agent? One of the boys told me you were a secret agent." (He could pass for one in his suit and leather jacket, I guess [boy does he look sharp!]). Nathaniel said, "Even if I was, I couldn't tell you. Really I am clerking for the judges." I thought that might be a good rumor to keep up on. Sounds so exiting! Maybe someday...

HE PASSED!!!!

Really is there anything more to say? Bring on the celebrations...

I've Broken Down

I turned on the Christmas music, turned on the heater, and started making hot chocolate. When it is 38 degrees outside, it's Christmas time. At least it feels like it to us. We aren't used to this cold weather business. If it's going to be cold, we are going to live it up Christmas style! That's what Arizona will do to you.